FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
For information about shipping cost and delivery times, please visit our Shipping & Returns page.
When we ship an order, you will be notified by email with tracking information. You can also log in to your account to view your order status and find shipment tracking.
All return requests must be made within 30 days of purchase. Please contact us to initiate a return reference number. Include your full name, order number and any details to help us assist with your concern. We are not able to offer refund based on personal taste. Original and return shipping cost are nonrefundable.
For all international orders, please contact us directly for assistance.
Each order can be shipped to only one address. If you need to ship to different addresses, please place separate orders for each address. For assistance with shipment to multiple location, please contact us directly.
We accept all major credit cards including Visa, Master Card, American Express and Discover. We also accept Apple Pay and Paypal.
We include applicable sales tax for all orders based on shipping address.
Periodically, we offer complimentary samples on your orders. To request for samples, please indicate your selection in your Cart.
If you experience any issue with your order, please contact us directly. We will promptly address any order issues.
Due to the processing time of our orders, we are unable to cancel or change orders once they have been placed. Please contact us to process a return.
Ikaati works with farmers who are devoted to their craft of producing exceptional teas. Their passion is demonstrated by the attention they give to each step of the tea making process. From picking to producing and finally packing, Ikaati continues to collaborate with our farmers to pursue excellence rooted in quality integrity, and transparency.
Our priority is to ensure safety and quality of all our products. Our teas are handled in facilities that adhere to the strict standards of cGMP (Current Good Manufacturing Process) and HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point). These measures are design to prevent biological and chemical contamination and provide tight control to our production processes.
The term organic indicates that an agricultural product has been produced and processed using methods approved by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for organic standards. These methods integrate cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity.
The USDA prohibits the use of synthetic fertilizers, irradiation, and genetic engineering. Land must have had no prohibited substances applied to it for at least 3 years before the harvest of an organic crop. For a product to be “certified organic” it means that a nonprofit, state or private certification organization, accredited by the USDA, has verified that the product labeled as “organic” meet strictly defined organic standards. Ikaati is independently certified by Quality Assurance International (QAI).
Our teas are tested first onsite at each garden before shipment. Once they arrived at our production facility, they are tested again before packing. This is to ensure that no contamination occurred during shipment to our packing facility. Testing on our teas are carried out by accredited independent laboratories. For organic teas, each batch undergoes testing according to USDA Organic standard. For conventional teas, each batch are tested according to USDA and EU standards.
The EU has a more stringent requirement on traces of pesticide residue allowed on agricultural products. The Maximum Residue Level (MRL) set by the EU is stricter than those set by USDA. Additionally, the EU also ban 72 pesticides that are allowed in US. We choose the stricter standard to follow.
Our pouches are made from a plant-based material called Polylactic Acid (PLA). PLA is typically derived from corn starch, sugar cane, potatoes, and other biomass. PLA is not derived from petroleum. This material is safe to use with hot water and is BPA-free and phthalate-free.
Yes, the pouch fabric, along with the cotton string and paper tag are biodegradable in commercial composting systems.
Our mission is to deliver the freshest teas in packaging that has the least ecological impact. As described above, our tea pouch is made of PLA, a biodegradable material. Our tea box fully recyclable, and we designed it so it can be reused.
For your enjoyment, we recommend that you use your tea before the “best by” date. Although the tea does not immediately expire, it may not be as fresh after the indicated date.
Tea is best kept in a cool and dry surrounding, away from sunlight and strong aromas. Tea readily absorbs scents from nearby objects, thus changing its flavor and character. Moisture and direct sunlight also deteriorate tea’s quality. We recommend keeping your tea in their original packaging and storing them in a cabinet that does not have food or other strong-smelling items.
Ikaati only uses organic or natural flavoring. We do not use artificial flavoring in our teas.
Yes, all our teas are GMO free.
For 1 tea pouch steeped in 1 cup of hot water, the tea contains approximately 2.45 Calories.
We offer a selection of teas in Nourish, Savor and Heritage collections that are certified Kosher. Please review each tea’s specification to determine if it is Kosher.
Yes, our teas are gluten free.
If you are pregnant, please consult your physician before consuming teas.
Tea leaves from the Tea plant (Camillia Sinensis) contain caffeine. The average amount of caffeine in a 6 oz. of tea brewed for 3 minutes is 35 mg. In comparison, 6 oz. of coffee contains around 70mg of caffeine.
The amount of caffeine found in a brewed tea depends largely on steeping time, water temperature, and size of leaf cut. Contrary to popular belief, caffeine content from different types of tea leaves, such as black, green, or white are quite similar.
In general, caffeine extraction from tea leaves increases with temperature and time, i.e. longer steeping time and hotter water temperature leads to more caffeine extraction. Another factor that affects caffeine extraction is leaf cut. Finer leaf cut provides greater surface area for extraction to occur. Hence more caffeine can be extracted from teabag-cut leaf compared to whole-leaf tea, given the same steeping time and water temperature.
Ikaati provides guidance on caffeine level of each tea based on recommended steeping temperature and time. Higher temperature and longer steeping time results in higher caffeine level in the brewed tea.
Decaf tea leaves usually contain residual level of caffeine. An 8 oz. of brewed decaf tea may contain 2 to 10 mg of caffeine. Caffeine-free tea has zero mg of caffeine. Herbal teas that does not contain tea leaves (camellia sinensis) area usually caffeine-free.
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